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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of excavators to notify operators of the |
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location of planned excavations and the duties of operators to mark |
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the location of underground facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 251.151(a), Utilities Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Sections 251.155 and 251.156, a |
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person who intends to excavate shall notify a notification center |
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not earlier than the 14th day before the date the excavation is to |
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begin or later than the 48th hour before the time the excavation is |
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to begin, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. For a |
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planned excavation activity that will extend to a location that is |
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one-quarter mile or more from the beginning point of an excavation |
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project, each one-quarter mile portion of the planned excavation |
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project is considered a separate excavation and the excavator shall |
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provide a separate notification under this section for each |
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excavation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 251.152, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 251.152. INFORMATION INCLUDED IN NOTICE. The |
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excavator shall include in the notice required under Section |
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251.151: |
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(1) the name of the person serving the notice; |
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(2) the location of the proposed area of excavation |
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and the location of the beginning point of the proposed excavation, |
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including: |
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(A) the street address, if available, and the |
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location of the excavation at the street address; or |
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(B) if there is no street address, an accurate |
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description of the excavation area using any available designations |
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such as the closest street, road, or intersection; |
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(3) the name, address, and telephone number of the |
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excavator or the excavator's company; |
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(4) the excavator's field telephone number, if one is |
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available; |
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(5) a telephone facsimile number, e-mail address, or |
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another electronic number or address approved by the board to which |
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an operator may send the notification required by Section |
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251.157(d); |
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(6) the starting date and time and the anticipated |
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completion date of excavation; and |
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(7) a statement as to whether explosives will be used. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |